Creative geniuses

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I am so lucky to have my daughter and three friends visit me at Camp Adirondack.  They are experiencing it at its best, despite the fact it’s still black fly season and the pine pollen is falling in clouds.  They’ve hiked locally and afar.  We went for a sail on a blustery day, played board games and of course have explored arts and crafts. Now they’ve crossed the border and have headed to Montreal.

In anticipation of their visit, I invested in a //ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=islandnorcoul-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B002EDNZD0&asins=B002EDNZD0&linkId=&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true” target=”_blank”>Harrisville Designs Pro Loom and a couple of bags of 10″ loops.  The larger version is an improvement (in my humble opinion) over the original 7″ design.  I never could have imagined the fun they would have with it or how competitive they would be – hoarding loops and judging the finished products.  In a couple of days, on their own,  they have explored color work, texture, twill and sett.  It’s amazing. It may have allowed them to appreciate the thought that goes into even the simplest project.  Plus they have a useful reminder of their time in the North Country.

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I also played with some yarn necklaces before they got here because there were a few – and why not celebrate them all – birthday celebrations.  We saw a version of this in a craft store in West Virginia and it looked easy to replicate.  I bought a little jewelry making kit and practiced bending and twisting wire.  I think the wrappings are smooth enough and hopefully won’t gouge anyone.

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One morning, during breakfast, my neighbor pulled up in his tractor to tell me there was a fawn next door.  We must have walked by it the previous afternoon and had no idea it was there.  We returned with cameras and found this beautiful little fawn lying in the grass.   We gave it a wide berth and I  used my zoom lens to capture its image.

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Their weaving enthusiasm inspired me to complete a scarf, which had been languishing on my rigid heddle loom since December.  Now the loom vacuum is begging for another project.

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Over the past couple of days I have scored a Louet Drum Carder and Brother Serger.  So much experimenting to do.

Take it outside

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As the weather turns nicer, I try to move my activities outside.  I seem to weave a few rope mats every summer.  We need to replace a few rugs at home and I made a frame that lets me weave a Turk’s Head mat.  I did one with climbing rope and the other with manila.

Woven rope mats made on a frame 5 nails on top and bottom and 4 on sides

Woven rope mats made on a frame 5 nails on top and bottom and 4 on sides

My braided rug is coming along S  L  O  W  L  Y.  I’ve been told it looks better in person than in photos.  It’s a good project to work on when sitting and chatting.  Mindless handiwork.

IMG_9575[1]It’s a nice thick rug and if I ever finish it, will be great in the cabin.

I finally have a project back on the floor loom.  A couple of bright, pastel baby blankets.  One down, one to go.

IMG_9573[1]Notice the lamb’s wool on the bench?  I found it at IKEA and it’s making me a happy weaver.

Lastly, I played with some fancy ribbon yarn and made a few necklaces.  My darling daughter and I saw these at a craft shop in West Virginia and I was confident I could recreate them.  I have a little jeweler’s kit and had fun playing with the wire.  There’s a fairly good chance the wearer won’t get stabbed in the neck from the clasp and its attachment.

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Of course, knitting is always portable and I plan to bring some on a camping trip we’re taking tomorrow.  I’m making a laceweight, cropped mohair cardigan to wear to my dear son’s wedding this fall.

IMG_9578[1]That’s a wrap.

 

Ship shape

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Thirteen boat cushions are complete and mostly a success. There were a only few minor glitches.  But they brighten the boat and aren’t ripped.  Hopefully only my eyes will focus on the errors.  Next time I’ll do even better.

IMG_9543Tim got to use my favorite gift for the boat.  I bought it when we were living aboard a boat with a ginormous mast.  As the lighter of the crew, ahem, I was the chosen candidate to be hoisted to the top to do various repairs.  Then I found the ATN topclimber.  Now Tim can climb himself up the mast and I just have to stand by and watch in case he comes tumbling down.  Best purchase ever.

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The boat is afloat and my mind turns to the garden and my loom.  I’m planning a dyeing garden, that’s dyeing in the color sense not the end of life.  Who needs food when there is fiber to be dyed?  Actually, I may have bitten off more than I can chew because I’m planning three gardens.  A raised bed mostly for veggies, a flower garden for cutting and dye and a perennial garden to keep the butterflies and hummingbirds happy.

IMG_9567We may be beyond frost but one never knows in the Adirondacks.  The hummingbirds are back at the feeders and I witnessed a near hummicide the other day.  Two birds met at the feeder, flew into one another, held on and spiraled to the ground.  Then one pounded the other for about three minutes.  They both were males so I guess they were staking out the territory.  One pinned the other to the ground, pecked at it, sat on it and covered it with its wings. Very dramatic. Not so sweet after all.

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Is your child a picky eater or are you a bad cook?

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I’m serious. Think about it. I heard a discussion on NPR yesterday about managing picky eaters. They even had a new phrase to replace “picky eater” but I forget what it was. The conversation got me to thinking.

I was labeled a picky eater as a child. I was left to sit at the table with an unfinished plate before me. I don’t remember how long I was left there, but it felt like an eternity. I softly singing a song with my dog’s name in it to keep her nearby. Then I would feed unwanted scraps to her under the table.

BUT I am NOT a picky eater. I love and will eat almost anything- anything! My mother, however, was a terrible cook. She hated cooking and it showed. We had broiled meat, leseur petit peas from a can (which I loathe to this day), powdered mashed potatoes almost every night. I wasn’t a picky eater, I was a discriminating eater. To make matters worse, it was my job to scrub the broiler pan after the meal and it was never lined with foil or anything to make the job easier or more palatable.

The first time I baked cookies was at a friend’s house in fourth grade. It was an awakening, the smell of toll house cookies baking in the oven was something I still love. Who doesn’t.

At age thirteen or so I became a vegetarian (largely because I was sick and tired of broiled meat) and began to cook all my meals for myself. Suddenly no one thought I was a picky eater, even though I was a vegetarian. The food I prepared and ate was good. I still had to scrub the broiler pan though.

So I ask you, when you think your child is a picky eater, take a good look at yourself and what you are serving. Or offer them the opportunity to cook for themselves.

Eleven down

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Two to go. Boat cushion project almost complete. Lucky for me I am working on the cushions this season because when we uncovered the boat, there was two inches of water over the floor boards from? Snow melt thorough the hatch? Leaky oily cloth tarp? It’s unclear and we thought we did the best cover ever. Goes to show me anyway, less is more. Luckily, I was too busy sewing to get involved in the clean up project and the Captain had to tackle it on his own. Silver lining?

I’m ready to cover anything now. I’ve covered a porch swing cushion, which I previously had pinned together – how tacky. I’m stymied by a boat pillow though because I didn’t plan my cutting well and will have to piece one of the pillows, creating a seam on the face. Probably getting a little compulsive but don’t want to place a fourth order with Sailrite, even though they are my new favorite online site. Amazon watch out!

My 1951 Viking Husqvarna sewing machine has been the perfect machine for the task. With the zig zag feature, I can move the needle to the left or right and don’t even have to change the presser foot to install a zipper. And it’s so cute.

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My knitting needles keep me occupied at night. I finished a pair of socks to send to my BFF. As soon as my cushions are done, I want to warp the loom for two baby blankets, since she just became a grandmother too. I know, I had nine months or so to make something but this is how I fly. And I’m a little superstitious about baby gifts.

Last night I finished a pair of gloves for me knit from a blend of merino and mohair I spun a few years ago. They should be warm and strong and perfect for man handling the wood pile.

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I serve on a local board and yesterday was our annual retreat. I volunteered to make breakfast for 25. I made donuts, my new favorite treat, cherry, chocolate almond scones, cranberry scones and blueberry muffins. They were a hit. During the meeting, I cast on for a cardigan for a fall wedding. I think I’m their first physician board member who caters and knits!

Spring slam

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I traveled five hours south last week to meet up with my kids in the old neighborhood. Spring was definitely in the air. There was no hiding from the beautiful flowers and bright colors or the plentiful pollen.

Daffodils, forsythias and magnolias were all in bloom. So different from the north country where spring means less snow and wildflowers hiding in the woods. Someone was throwing their dead wood out in the garbage?!

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Our old house looked beautiful and reminded me of some of my fondest memories.

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All zipped up

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Sailing season approaches and our sailboat’s original cushions from the 1980’s were shot. My Husqvarna Viking 1951 sewing machine was purchased for the task.

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Sailrite showed me the way. It’s my new, favorite website. They have great, do it yourself, videos to recover cushions, pillows, upholstery, sail covers you name it. And they have lots of great tips. For instance, I cut my fabric with a hot knife to prevent the edges from fraying.

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By following the steps in one of their videos, I can install a zipper in minutes and it’s a good thing because I have installed over 40 feet of zippers!

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So I am 7 cushions into the project and have gotten the hang of it. The old fabric was so shot, I used the cushions to directly measure the fabric. Just like knitting, it’s all about ease. This varied as I went along, early ones may have a bit too much “negative ease” and are a bit squished. Several cushions are mounted on a board and I forgot wood doesn’t compress in my measurements; my first attempt has to be partially redone when I can bring myself to pull out another hundred staples!

I am eager to see how they look on the boat. I have three of the longest cushions left and two more on boards to finish. The captain has decided he wants buttons to pull in the cushions as the boat had before. Sailrite has forms to easily make coordinated buttons.

20140421-074020.jpg Sewing in three dimensions is different from quilting. It’s a wonder as these squared, boxed covers emerge from the sewing machine. Of course not one of my cushions were square boxes and not due to my sewing prowess. Every cushion was wonky. They are angled in the back to nestle against the boat’s curved sides. They are narrower towards the bow, wider at the stern. Now they are just a bit more interesting.

Even my knitting has zippers. I’m almost done with this baby sweater with a zipper up the back, I found on an archived web page. I never owned one when my kids were little but friends say they are the easiest way to dress a squirmy little one.

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